This page is dedicated to laboratory-specific recycling practices at UCSB. Research laboratories can reduce their environmental impact by recycling clean, dry, non-hazardous plastics through designated recycling bins. For non-recyclable plastics, labs can support a sustainable research culture and donate materials through UCSB’s partnership with Art From Scrap.
For a guide on what you can recycle in the laboratory space, please see the guides below:
Santa Barbara County Recycling Rules
Currently, plastics #1, #2, and #5 are recycled reliably by Marborg only if they are larger than 6 inches. There is no market for these plastics smaller than 6 inches, so there is no incentive for Marborg to accept these plastics. Since many lab plastics do not meet the 6” threshold, lab personnel can still divert away from the landfill and donate non-recyclable materials for reuse through the low-carbon, no-cost partnership with Art From Scrap.